Hackforth and Hornby Church of England Primary School, a rural school near Catterick Garrison, will close its doors permanently at the end of August due to declining pupil numbers. The school has faced reduced enrollment in recent years, which has impacted its financial stability.
A consultation process was launched in November last year, including a public meeting to discuss the potential closure. Following this, a statutory notice was published, providing the community the opportunity to make further representations until Friday, February 28. North Yorkshire Council’s children and young people’s service met on Thursday, March 20 and made the decision to close the school on August 31.
Cllr Annabel Wilkinson, the council’s executive member for education, learning, and skills, said: “Closing a school is never an easy decision to make. We know small, rural schools in the county have many strengths, including a strong relationship with the local community and low pupil-to-teacher ratios. However, pupil numbers at Hackforth and Hornby Church of England Primary School have continued to drop since 2017. The school has a capacity to accommodate 42 children but currently, there are only a handful of primary age children attending. We have a responsibility to look into the quality and breadth of education to ensure every child in the county has the best experience at school, and with a heavy heart, we have no choice but to close the school.”
The council has confirmed that there will be places available at nearby schools to accommodate the remaining children in the area.
In a related decision, the council has also decided to end sixth-form provision at Wensleydale School in Leyburn. For the past two years, there have been no post-16 students in Years 12 and 13 at the school, which will continue to serve pupils aged 11 to 16.
